Unit 1 Whakapapa Exploration Template · 2025 Edition

Learning intentions

  • Explore personal whakapapa respectfully and with manaakitanga.
  • Connect identity to whenua, whānau, and tikanga.
  • Practice reflective writing about cultural heritage.

Success criteria

  • I can describe my connections to people and place with appropriate tikanga.
  • I can articulate values and traditions that shape my identity.
  • I can identify how I want to contribute to my whānau and community.

🌿 Cultural Guidance

Whakapapa is sacred and connects us to our tīpuna (ancestors), our whenua (land), and our future generations. Share only what feels appropriate and comfortable.

Students use the prompts below to map their identity, values, and aspirations.

My Whakapapa Journey

1. Ko Wai Au? (Who Am I?)

Prompt: Write your name and share something meaningful about what your name represents or means to you.

2. My Whānau Connections

Prompt: Who are the important people in your whānau (family)? This could include biological family, chosen family, or those who have raised you.

3. My Whenua (Land Connections)

Prompt: What places are important to you? Where do you feel you belong? This could be where you were born, live now, or places that feel like home.

4. My Cultural Heritage

Prompt: What cultural traditions, languages, or practices are part of your identity? How do they connect you to your ancestors?

5. My Values and Beliefs

Prompt: What values guide you? What do you believe is important in life? How might these connect to your whānau or cultural background?

6. My Future Whakapapa

Prompt: How do you want to contribute to your whānau, community, or the world? What legacy do you hope to create?

🤝 Sharing Guidelines

Remember: You choose what to share. Whakapapa is personal and sacred. Share only what feels comfortable and appropriate for you.

Formative check: Invite students to select one prompt and share a 30-second summary with a partner, focusing on tikanga-appropriate sharing.

Support

  • Offer sentence starters for each prompt.
  • Allow voice notes instead of writing.

Extend

  • Invite students to add a simple visual whakapapa map.
  • Link to a community elder interview as a follow-up.

Whānau connection

Send a short kōrero home inviting whānau to share one story or whakataukī that connects to the learner’s prompts.

📚 Additional Resources

Explore these curated resources to deepen understanding of whakapapa and Māori identity:

  • 🌐 Te Ara Encyclopedia: Whakapapa - genealogical connections
  • 📖 Ministry of Education: Teaching about Māori identity in schools
  • 🎥 Māori Television: Understanding whakapapa in modern contexts